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Tom Howe has been tipped by many for a bright future in the Welsh game
This month will see Wales U20s hooker Tom Howe gain his A-Level results, with the 18-year-old having sat his biology, psychology and PE exams earlier this summer.
Once that rite of passage for a teenager is done and dusted, Howe’s next focus will be on breaking into senior rugby. The Ysgol Glantaf pupil has long been tipped for a future at the highest level.
Former Wales hooker Scott Baldwin recently said that Howe has “the highest of ceilings I’ve seen of a hooker coming through in Wales”.
“I’d put him in the same category as Dewi Lake, but he’s probably further down the line in his development as a hooker for his age profile because he is in his first year with the Under-20s,” added Baldwin on Scrum V last month.
“I know from speaking to Steve Tandy that he’s already in their thoughts for 12 to 18 months’ time.”
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That would represent a remarkably rapid rise, given Howe was recently playing schoolboy rugby. Last December, he missed his school’s side cup final victory at the Principality Stadium to play for Wales U20s.
This summer, he started in four matches at the Junior World Championship, playing a prominent role as Wales finished sixth.
Having already trained with the senior side at Cardiff, there’s a fair chance he’ll soon be pushing Liam Belcher, Evan Lloyd and Dafydd Hughes at the Arms Park.
Even if Corniel van Zyl doesn’t want to rush the young man from Llanishen, it still seems likely a senior debut will come his way in the coming months.
Certainly, given the hype around him, that would fit the current trajectory.
However, the man himself clearly isn’t getting carried away.
“It was great to get an insight into what I need to improve and to learn professional habits off the other boys,” the teenager told BBC Sport about training with Cardiff’s senior side.
“It was really helpful and I can’t wait to get straight back into it. I’m working towards a debut but I’m not sure when that will come.
“I won’t hold my breath, I’ll just keep working hard and stay committed because I’ve got enough time. There’s no rush.”
On the hype surrounding him, Howe added: “You’re only as good as your last game and you have to keep working hard,” he said.
“It has happened so many times, players have been built up and nothing comes of it.
“My parents have made sure to tell me to stay humble and treat everybody the way that you would like to be treated.
“You meet the same people on the way up as you do on the way down, so stay humble and stay committed to the craft, I guess.”
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